Tractor plow hitch



March 27, 1945*.' G. w. TODD v TRACTOR PLow HITGH Filed Feu-25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN T OR.

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A TRACTOR PLow HI'rcH l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 25. 1942 j. G. Mudd,

INVENTQR.

Patented Mar. 27,

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACTOR PLOW m'rcn L Garry w. 'roaa, chai-lotte, N. c. Application February 25, 1942, Serial No. 432,331

Claims.

. or uneven ground surfaces.

An important object of the invention is to provide connecting means-between the plow beam and tractor, which will automatically operate to raise or lower the plow blade, thereby compensating for irregularities in the ground surface.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds,

-f the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts -hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring` to the drawings Figure l is a side elevational view of a tractor, illustrating a plow be m hitched to the tractor, in accordance with t e invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tractor plow.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the pivotal links which connect the plow beam to the tractor.

Figure 5 is a diagram, illustrating the hydraulic cylinder, forming a, part of the plow beam operating mechanism.

Figure 6 is a. fragmental elevational view illustrating a furrow plow as connected with the tractor.

Referring-to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates a' tractor, the reference character 8 indicating the usual side rails of the tractor chassis. I y

Pivotally connected with the side rails 6 of the chassis, and disposedsubstantially intermediate the ends of the side rails, are the arms 8 which are connected by means of the rods 9 and I8, the rod I8 which is extended through openings in the arms 8, extending appreciable distances beyond the arms 8, as clearly shown by Figure 4 of the drawings. I0 are pivotally mounted in bearing openings formed in the depending ears II', formed on the side rails 6.

The forward end of the plow beam I3 is pivotally connected to the yoke I2 mounted on 'the rod 9. The yoke I2 is adapted to be secured in its positions ofadjustment by -means of the threaded bolt I2' with the result that plows of various sizes, may be used.

Formed at the rear end of the plow beam I3 The extended ends of the rod` Connected with the shaft I8 is an'arm28 tov which a control rod 2| is connected, the control Xrod ZI being also connected with the arm 22 secured to one end of the shaft 23. This shaft 23 is mounted in bearings 24 that extend from the-crank case housing or' the tractor.

Arms Z5 are also-connected with the shaft 23 and are provided with openings through which the upper ends of the coiled springs Z6 extend, the lower ends of the coiled springs being disposed in openings formed in the upturned ends 2l of the rod 28.

'Inis rod 28 is secured tothe beam I3, at a point substantially intermediate the ends thereof.

As clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawings, the beam I3 is formed witn an oifset portion 29 to which the disk 30 is coniected.A

'lne lower end of the vertical shaft I 6, is formed into an axleyonvwhich the wheel 3| is'mounted, the wheel 3| providing a support for the rear end of the plow beam I3. Connected with the arm 22. is a rod 32 that extends forwardly. and connects with one of the arms 8 at one side of the frame. f\

Connected with the arm 8 at the opposite side of the frame, is a rod 83 that is an opening formed in the upstanding end 34 of the piston rod 35. A head 36 is formed on-one end of the movable rod 33 and acts as a stop against which one end of the coiled spring 3l engages, the opposite end ot the coiled spring engaging the upstanding end 34 of the piston rod 35, so that movement of the rod 35 will be coutrolled and cushioned, by the coiled spring. An adjusting nut 38 provides a stop, to limit the movement of the rod 33, in one direction.

'I'he piston rod 35 carries the piston 38 on one en'd thereof, the piston 38 operating in the cylinder 39 that is mounted 'on the tractor frame. Pipes`40 and 4I- connect with the ends of the cylinder 39 an'd also have connection with' the liquid supply chamber 42, to theend that movement of the piston within the cylinder, will opcrate to movel the liquid from onevl end of the cylinder, through the liquid'supplychamber, and

mounted in movement until rearwardly against the action of the spring 3l, to lower the plow beam i3.

While the vertical shaft I6 is mounted for vertical movement, it is also mounted within the bearing or sleeve l5, for rotary movement.4 At the upper end of the vertical shaft i6 is a laterally extended arm` Q3 to which the rod de is connected. The forward end of the rod te connects with the pin E that extends from the head d6 of the rod et that connects with the steering knuckles of the tractor. The head it forms a part of the usual steering mechanism, and is moved to guide the tractor, by means oi the steering column 5d. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the rear supporting wheel 3l is moved with the front or steering wheels of the tractor, to eliminate drag of the dish or plow supported by the plow beam i3,

when the tractor is being turned.

In the operation of the tractor plow, 'it will be obvious that when the plow moves into an irregularity in the ground surface, such as a mound, hill or the like, the added strain directed to the plow blade, caused bythe plow being directed deeper into the ground, will cause a pull to be directed to the lower ends of the arms 8, the upper ends of the arms moving forwardly.

Assuming that the piston '38 has moved forward in cylinder 39 where the end 34 of the rod 35 is in a position to engage the adjusting nut 38 on the rod 33, it is obvious that the tension on spring 3l is decreased to the point where it has practically no power. With the rod 35 in this position, if light backward pressure is applied at plow blade 30, the spring 3l offering slight resistance, the whole mechanism from arms 8 at the front, back to sleeve l5 will move into operation. The result of this movementl is t-o raise the plow and beam upwardly. If reverseo movement takes place in cylinder 39, the piston 38 will be caused to move toward the rear. With this movement, it will be readily seen that, the tension on spring 3l is increased according to the distance that piston and rod travel toward the rear, and as the tension on the spring 3l is increased, the plow blade 30 penetrates to a greater depth and will continue its downward the pounds pulled at -3l), equal the tension of the spring 31.

When the plow blade moves upwardly as in striking a ditch orfurrow, the reverse action of the arms 8 takes place, resulting in the plow being directed downwardly to again compensate for such hollow or recess inthe ground surface.

During the movement of the arms 8 and plow beam as described, the piston rod is moved against the uid within the cylinder 39, cushioning the movementsof the plow.

What is claimed is: 1. In a tractor plow, a tractor, a pivoted plow beam connecting member mounted on the tractor at a point intermediate the ends of the tractor, a plow Ibeam connected to the connecting member, a plow blade mounted on the plow beam, a vertical cylindrical bearing secured at the rear end of the plow beam, a sleeve mounted within the cylindrical bearing, a vertical shaft secured to the sleeve, a supporting wheel mounted on the lower end of-the vertical shaft and adapted to support the rearV end of the plow beamVteeth formed on .the sleeve, a gear meshing with the teeth of the sleeve and adapted to move the sleeve vertically, and means controlled by the movement of the plow beam connecting member ing the gear and sleeve, raising and lowering for operat-l comprising an upper pivot said wheel, and regulating the depth of opera tion of the plow blade.

2. In a tractor plow, a tractor, la. plow beam on which a plow blade is mounted, means for pivotally connecting the forward end of the plow beam to the tractor, said connecting means embodying pivoted arms connected to the tractor andadapted to pivot when the plow yblade moves above or below a predetermined operating level, a vertically movable supporting wheel mounted at the rear end of the plow beam, a control rod mounted on the tractor, yieldable means connecting the control rod to the pivoted arm, means for transmitting movement of the control rod t0 said supporting wheel, whereby said supporting wheel and plow beam are moved vertically, regulating the depth of operation of the plow blade.

3. In a tractor plow, a tractor, a horizontal pivoted rod mounted on the tractor frame substntially intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, vertical arms connected with said rod, the lower ends of the arms extending below said rod, a rod connecting the lower ends of the arms, a plow beam pivotally connected to the latter rod and adapted to move forwardly in a horizontal direction with the movement of the arms, means for restricting pivotal movement of said arms, said means embodying a cylinder containing liquid, 'a piston and 4piston-rod operating within the cylinder, said piston-rod having an eye formed at one end thereof, a r-od having a head on one of its ends extended through the eye and being` connected with one'of said arms, a coiled spring on the latter rod and engaging the head and eyeand means for increasing or diminishing the normal liquid pressure within the cylinder at either side of the piston whereby the tension of said spring is regulated, a vertically movable wheel mounted on the plow beam, a rod connected with one of said vertical arms, an arm connected with the rod and adapted to move the vertically movable wheel adjusting the depth cf operation of the plow carried thereby.

4. In a tractor plow, a tractor, a pivoted connecting member mounted intermediate the ends of the tractor, said pivoted connecting member rod and a lower connecting rod, arms connecting the rods, a yoke mounted for adjustment longitudinally of the connecting rod, a plow beam carrying plowvblades, pivotally connected with the yoke, a vertically movable supporting 'wheel mounted on the plow beam and includinga sleeve operating in a cylindrical bearing formed at one end of the plow beam, a pivoted arm engaging the sleeve and adapted to move the sleeve vertically whereby the plow beam and blades carried thereby are raised andlowered. u

5. In a tractor plow, a tractor, a pivoted connecting member mounted. intermediate the ends of the tractor frame, said connecting member including a connecting rod, a plow beam pivotally connected to the connecting rod and adjustable transversely of the plow frame, means for raising and loweringthe rear end of said plow beam, said means embodying a cylinder and piston, yieldable means 'connecting the piston with the connecting member, means, for directing liquid to the cylinder at opposite sides of the piston, moving said piston and connecting member connected thereto, pivotally connected rods, one of said rods being'connected to the connecting mem- .ber and the opposite rod being connected to the free end of the plow bea A GARRY W. TODD. 

